System of operating railway switches and signal devices.



P. D. HIBNBR.

SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNAL DEVICES. APPLICATIONIILBD ammo, 190a. nnnnwnn APR. 18, 1911.

1 ,02 1 3 1 2, Patented Mar. 26, 1912;

2 sums-sum 1. I

WITNESSES M ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPM C0..WA:H1NOTON, D. c

P. 1). HIBNER. v SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNALDEVICES. I APPLIUATIONIILBD BEPT.30, 1908. RENEWED APR. 18, 1911.

1,021,312. Patented Mar.26, 1912.

2 BEEETB-BHEBT 2.

fl 5 7 fI g-i WITNESSES IN V EN TOR.

COLUMBIA PIANOGRAPII C0,, wunmamu. u. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP D. HIBNER, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

SYSTEM OF OPERATING RAILWAY SWITCHES AND SIGNAL DEVICES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Mar, 26, 1912, I Applicationfiled September 30, 1908, Serial No. 455,442. Renewed April 18, 1911.Serial No. 621,884.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP D. I-IIBNER, a citizen of the United States,residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Systems of OperatingRailway Switches and Signal Devices, of which the following is aspecification- This invention relates to apparatus employed foroperating and controlling railway switches and also the signalappliances which are utilized in conjunction therewith to indicate thecondition of the same.

Switches have hitherto been connected for operation with levers locatedin towers at a distance from the switch; there have also been employed,but distinct therefrom, individual levers for operating the severalsignal appliances; and switch-stand posts have also been utilized tooperate switches; but so far as I am aware none of these controllingagencies have been so associated as to obviate the requirements of amultiplicity of levers in a tower, nor can the post be operatedindependently of the tower controllers.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that a system of interactingdevices, including the switch operating and signal devices which can besimultaneously actuated either from a stand adjacent to the track orfrom a relatively remote tower is novel, and to be of extreme value inrailway practice through the elimination of some of the factors which ifmisdirected might, and oftentimes do, lead to accident of considerablemoment.

The object of my invention is the provision of means whereby the abovereferred to functions are coincidently attainable through the selectionof a single lever in a tower or from a post in proximity to the movablemember of a switch.

The invention consists of the novel arrangement, adaptation andcombination of devices, as will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, whereof- Figure 1 is a plan View of a railwaytrack, to which are applied devices embodying the present invention,shown in plan and horizontal section. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal elevationtaken from a plane 2-2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of theswitch-lock controller. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the lever andassociated parts for manipulating the switch operating and signaldevices. Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig.6 is a front elevation of the signal device denominated as the target.Figs. 7 and 8, respectively, are side and front elevations of theswitchstand.

Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 10 designates the rails of a main lineof a railway track, 11 the rails of a branch or turn-out,

and 12 a swingable switch-tongue whereby a train moving as indicated bythe arrow may be directed into the branch or caused to proceed upon themain line in its progress beyond the switch-tongue. This tongue isoperated by a connected bar 13, which in turn is connected to a reachrod 14 with a crank-arm 15 which is mounted for rotation in aswitch-stand 16.

Rigidly secured to the post (see Fig. 7) is a collar 15 provided with anotch wherein is engaged the short arm 17 of a lever 17 when the latteris brought into corresponding radial line therewith and suitably tilted.The lever is fulcrumed at 18 to the ears 18 of a ring 18" which isloosely mounted upon the post. Fixed upon this post is a yoke 19 havingperipherally grooved arcuate extremities 19 to which are secured thepairs of lines 20, 20 and 21, 21'. Of these the lines 20, 20 extend toand after passing about guide pulleys 22 are secured to a sheave 23, oran equivalent mechanical device, upon a horizontal shaft 24 located inthe base of a semaphore standard 25. Operative connection is had betweenthe shaft 24 and a superposed shaft 26 which carries the semaphore-blade27 by an endless line 28 secured to and passing about pulley 24 and 26which are fixedly mounted upon the respective shafts. The shaft 26likewise carries frame-members 29 for pairs of spectacle-glasses ofappropriate colors which are individually presented to cover the openingof a lantern casing, as is usual, for the purpose of designating thecondition of the switch when the blade 27 is not readily discernible.

30 represents the stand of a target, so

called, having a bell-crank 31 mounted upon a rock-shaft 32 and havingone of its arms 31 connected with the line 20 as by an interposed plate.33. which is apertured at about its midlength to receive the pin 31upon the end of the crank-arm. Provided in the target is a receptaclefor a lantern 34, see Fig. 6, and upon the opposite sides thereof areframes 35 for appropriately colored spectacle-glasses 35 adapted to bebrought opposite the light to indicate the condition pulleys 38 and thesymmetrically disposed sector arms 39 of a yoke 39 and secure the lineends to the yoke in any suitable manner, as for example, to eye-bolts 40secured to another arm 39 which is rcctangularly The Q yoke is mountedfor oscillation upon a shaft; 41 which is journaled in a support 42secured to the framework of the tower and below the platform 43whereupon the operator Secured to the underside of the platform is aframe 44 comprised of side' members each of which is integrally providedwith pendent webs 44 and upwardly arranged with respect to the arms 39.

stands.

projecting plates 44 Extending through 46 with the yoke-arm 39. Theframeplates 44 are each provided with similar apertures 47 having theirrespective upper edges in the form of an arc concentric with respect tothe axis of the pin and projecting upwardly from the apertures in spacedrelation are recesses 47. A lever 48 is also fulcrumed by the pin 45 andextends above the platform for convenience of manipulation by theoperator. This lever is bifurcated at its lower end to permit the upperarm of the lever 46 to swing freely between its branches 48 and thelatter are slotted, as at 48", for a transversely disposed bar 49 ofsuch length as to have its ends flush with or protrude beyond the outersurfaces of the frame-plates 44".

The bar 49 has, centrally of its length, a stem 49 which extendsupwardly through a bridge member 48 connecting the lever branches and isprovided at its end with an adjustment nut 50 whose ofiice is to confinethe frame-webs 44 is a pin 45 serving as a fulcrum for a lever 46 havinga notch46 in its upper extremity: and connected from its lower end by alink r a spring 51 which bears against said bridge member for yieldinglyretaining the bar 49 out of the lever notch 46 and hence the lever 48 isnormally disengaged from the lever 46. To efiect the engagement of thetwo levers, a subsidiary lever 52 is pivotally connected to lugs 53 ofthe lever 48 and a rod 54 connects the lever 52 with a bell-crank 54which is hinged to the handle end of the lever 48. From the lever 46 isa connecting line 55 passing about guide pulleys 56, 56 and se cured toa sheave 57 upon a spindle 58, which has secured thereto a blade 59.When the lever 46 is moved either through the agency of the lever 48 orotherwise motion is correspondingly imparted to the blade 59 to apprisethe operator within the tower of the same and the consequent state ofthe switch, that is to say, as to whether it is closedor open, or,through inadvertence, in a position intermediate thereof.

In order to prevent the displacement of the switch tongue during thepassage of a train or car thereover, I utilize devices which areillustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 and comprise a depressible rail 60swingingly se cured to attachments 62 upon one of the main rails 10 asby pivotally connected links 61 and maintained in poised condition bycounter-weights 63, or an equivalenhsuch as springs.

In the bar 13 are notches 13 either of which is adapted to receive anoffset lug 60 of the rail 60 according to which of the notches ispresented through the longitudinal movement of the switch tongue whichaffects or is affected by the bar movements.

The operation of the invention is as follows: The switch tongue beingeither in its open or closed condition and inasmuch as the lines 20, '20and '21, 21 connect the various devices to cause them all to move inunison, the tongues position will be indicated by the position indicatedby the blade 51 within the tower and, by day, through the blades of thesemaphore and target stands, or at night by the blade 51 as well as bythe disclosures made by the spectacle glasses of the respective stands.To alter the position of the switch-tongue from the switch-stand, thelever 17 is raised from the inoperative position as represented in Figs.2 and 8 to that shown in Fig. 7 whereupon the lever is engaged in thenotched collar 15 so that by swinging the lever to one side or theother, as demanded, the post 15 is rotated to impart the necessarymotion to the bar 13 to efiect'the desired movement to the switchtongue. This manipulation, by reason of the connecting lines, effectsthe responsive movements of the signal devices as well as a movement ofthe lever 46 without disturbing the lever 48, which is locked by thespring-urged bar 49 occupying one of the slots 47. tongue being thusaccomplished through the medium of the lever 17 the latter may bereleased when the excess of weight of its longer arm withdraws itsshorter arm from engagement with the notched collar 15" upon the post 15when the latter is free to turn. To alter the position of the switch andcorrespondingly actuate the signal devices, the bell-crank 54 isactuated by the operator to dislodge the lock-bar 49 from the occupiednotch 17 and also introduce the bar into the notch 46 of the lever 4:6.WVhen the latter is in alinementthen the lock-bar may be engaged by asingle movement thereof, otherwise the lever 48 after being unlockedfrom the frame 44 must be swung to carry the bar into position whereatby a further movement of the same it is projected into the lever-notch46. WVhether it necessary for the operator to swing the lever 48 priorto engaging the other lever will be evident from an inspection of theblade 59 with relation to the lever 48. WVhen locked connection is thushad between the referred to lovers then they are swung as a singleelement to correspondingly effect the desired move ment of the switchtongue and simultaneously influence the signal devices to indicate thechange made. From the oliices of the depressible rail 60 interlockingupon occasion with the tongue-bar 13 it is obvious that the switchtongue can not be affected while a car or train is passing over theswitch. At other times the switch may be adjusted by either the lever 17or the lever l8 and that, too, without any interference on the part ofthe one which is unemployed.

Various changes as to details and disposition of parts in the carryingout of my invention may be resorted to, to adapt the same to varyingrequirements, such as a different class of switch, or a peculiararrangement of tracks.

Having described my invention, what I claim, is

1. In combination, with a switch-tongue, of two levers, normallydisconnected operable means whereby the switch-tongue may be actuatedfrom either of said levers, and means arranged to be affected by a carwhereby both of said levers are temporarily rendered inoperative.

2. In combination, a switch-tongue, two levers, normally disconnectedoperable means intermediate each of said levers and said tongue, saidlevers being each arranged to be engaged with said operable means forthe selective operation of the tongue by either of the levers.

3. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connectionbetween the yoke and the tongue, a second yoke, operative connectionsbetween said yokes, and

The movement of the switch normally disconnected lever devices for eachsaid yoke whereby said tongue may be influenced by either leverindependently of the other lever.

4. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connectionbetween the yoke and the tongue, a second yoke, operative connectionsbetween said yokes, nor mally disconnected lever devices for each saidyoke whereby said tongue may be influenced by either lever independentlyof the other lever, and means arranged to be affected by a car wherebyboth of said levers are temporarily rendered inoperative.

5. In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operative connectionbetween the yoke and the tongue, a lever arranged to be engaged with theyoke for operating the tongue therefrom, a second yoke, line connectionsbetween said yokes, and means engageable with the second named yoke foractuating the tongue independently of said lever. V 6. In combination, aswitch tongue, a plurality of yoke devices, controlling connectionsbetween one of said yoke devices and the tongue and line connectionsbetween the several yokes, and a lever for each said yoke severallyadapted for connection with the respective yoke for manipulation of saidtongue independently of the other said levers.

7. In combination with a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, controllingconnections between the tongue and the yoke, another pivoted yoke, andline connections between said yokes, of two devices severally adaptedfor connect-ion with said yokes whereby the tongue is capable of beingoperated inter changeably by either of said devices.

8. In a switch operating device, a vibratory yoke, having lineconnections with a switch-tongue, an intermediate lever operativclyconnected at one end to said yoke and provided at its other end with anotch, a bifurcated handle lever fulcrumed concentrically with saidintermediate lover, a transversely disposed bar carried by the handlelever normally locking the same against movement, and means to engagethe bar in said notch to lock the levers together to effect the movementof the switch tongue.

S). In combination, a switch tongue, a pivoted yoke, operativeconnection between the yoke and the tongue, a lever normallydisconnected from said yoke, a second pivoted yoke, operativeconnections between the latter and the first named yoke, and a levernormally disconnected from the second yoke, said levers being arrangedto be selectively employed for independently operating the switchtongue.

10. The combination with a switch tongue, a system of tongue operatinglines, two levers normally disconnected with said lines,

means for operatively connecting either of the levers with said lines,and means influenced by a car passing over the switch whereby theaforesaid means are rendered temporarily inoperative.

11. The combination with a switch tongue, lines for operating thetongue, two systems of lever devices engageable with the lines wherebythe tongue may be selectively op- 10 erated by either of said systems ofdevlces and without disturbing the unemployed systern.

PHILIP D. HIBNER.

Witnesses:

Homes BARNEs, A. H. SHOEMAKER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

